M 7.0 earthquake, Santiago del Estero, Argentina

BUENOS AIRES (AFP) - An earthquake measuring 7.0 degrees on the Richter scale occurred on Saturday deep in a rural area of the province of Santiago del Estero Argentina (north), causing no damage or casualties, AFP reported to the Institute National Seismic Prevention (Inpres).

Phenomenon occurred at a depth of 500 to 580 km from the surface, where only an earthquake can be detected as mild or very mild, 2 to 3 degrees of the modified Mercalli scale, said Marcelo Peña, Inpres official.

The quake's epicenter was located about 40 km west of the town of Campo Gallo, north of the province, amid a sparse semi-desert region whose population is just over 5,000.

The tremor was felt in the provinces of La Rioja (northwest) and Cordoba (center), according to testimony gathered by the Inpres, but unreported damage.